What is a database?

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed,
and updated.
Often abbreviated DB, a database is basically a collection of information organized in such a way
that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. You can think of a database as an
electronic filing system.


Traditional databases are organized by fields, records, and files. A field is a single piece of
information; a record is one complete set of fields; and a file is a collection of records. For example,
a telephone book is analogous to a file. It contains a list of records, each of which consists of three
fields: name, address, and telephone number.
To access information from a database, you need a database management system (DBMS). This is a collection
of programs that enables you to enter, organize, and select data in a database.
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